What is · 13 min
What Is a Rangefinder Camera?
A rangefinder camera uses a separate optical system to measure subject distance. The photographer focuses by aligning two images in the viewfinder before taking the photograph.
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What is · 13 min
A rangefinder camera uses a separate optical system to measure subject distance. The photographer focuses by aligning two images in the viewfinder before taking the photograph.
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A rangefinder camera uses an optical mechanism to measure the distance between the camera and the subject. The photographer focuses by aligning two images, usually visible inside a small patch in the viewfinder.
Unlike an SLR, a rangefinder does not normally show the image through the taking lens. The viewfinder and focusing mechanism use separate optical windows positioned on the camera body.
Rangefinder cameras may have interchangeable lenses or fixed lenses. They may use manual exposure, automatic exposure or a combination of both. The defining feature is the rangefinder mechanism, not the lens mount, film format or exposure system.
The word rangefinder describes an instrument used to determine distance.
In a camera, this measured distance is used to focus the taking lens.
Most photographic rangefinders work by triangulation. The camera observes the subject through two optical windows separated by a fixed distance. The difference between these two viewpoints changes according to subject distance.
Inside the viewfinder, the photographer sees:
When both images coincide, the lens is focused at the distance measured by the rangefinder.
A camera with an optical finder but no distance-measuring mechanism is a viewfinder camera, not a rangefinder.
A typical rangefinder has two front-facing optical windows.
The first window provides the main viewfinder image.
The second window sends another view of the subject through a movable mirror or prism. This secondary image appears inside a small focusing area in the main finder.
Because the two windows are positioned apart, they see the subject from slightly different angles.
Turning the lens focusing control changes the angle of the rangefinder mechanism. The photographer adjusts focus until the two images overlap.
The sequence can be summarised as:
The rangefinder does not analyse image sharpness in the same way as an SLR focusing screen. It measures distance geometrically.
The focusing patch is the area inside the viewfinder where the two rangefinder images are compared.
It may appear as a bright rectangle, a coloured patch, a circular area, a split or superimposed image, or a small central region with higher contrast.
When the lens is not correctly focused, vertical subject details appear doubled or separated.
The photographer usually selects a clear vertical edge, such as a door frame, the edge of a building, a person's eye or a signpost, and turns the focusing control until both images align.
A faded or low-contrast patch can make focusing difficult even when the rest of the viewfinder appears clear.
A coupled rangefinder is mechanically connected to the lens focusing system.
When the photographer turns the focusing ring:
This allows focusing to be completed in one action.
An uncoupled rangefinder measures distance but does not automatically set the lens. The photographer must measure the distance, read the value and transfer it manually to the lens scale.
Coupled rangefinders are generally faster to use.
Most rangefinder cameras do not show the scene through the taking lens.
The photographer looks through a separate optical viewfinder. The finder image is not formed by the mounted lens; instead, frame lines indicate the approximate field of view.
On an interchangeable-lens rangefinder, different frame lines may appear for different focal lengths. Some cameras select frame lines automatically when a lens is mounted; others require a manual selector or accessory finder.
Because the viewfinder is separate from the taking lens, it normally remains visible during the exposure. There is no reflex mirror to rise and block the view.
Rangefinder cameras do not have the large reflex mirror found in an SLR. The rangefinder mechanism itself may contain small mirrors or prisms used to combine the two optical images, but these components do not move out of the taking lens path during exposure.
Parallax is the difference between the view through the finder and the view through the taking lens.
The finder is positioned above or beside the lens. It therefore observes the scene from a slightly different position. At long distances the difference is usually small; at close distances the recorded image may be shifted relative to the finder image.
This can cause additional space on one side of the frame, part of the subject to be cut off, or foreground objects to appear in a different position.
Many advanced rangefinders include automatic parallax correction: as the lens focuses closer, the frame lines move to approximate the area that will be recorded. This correction improves framing but does not turn the finder into a through-the-lens system.
A viewfinder camera and a rangefinder camera may both use a separate optical finder. The difference is focusing.
| Feature | Viewfinder camera | Rangefinder camera |
|---|---|---|
| Viewing system | Separate optical finder | Separate optical finder |
| Distance measurement | No | Yes |
| Focusing patch | No | Usually yes |
| Common focusing methods | Fixed, zone or scale focus | Coupled or uncoupled rangefinder |
| Parallax | Present | Present, sometimes corrected |
| Through-the-lens viewing | No | No |
A camera is not a rangefinder simply because it has a clear finder or bright frame lines. It must include a distance-measuring mechanism.
A rangefinder measures subject distance through a separate optical mechanism. An SLR shows the image formed directly by the taking lens.
| Feature | Rangefinder | SLR |
|---|---|---|
| Viewing path | Separate from taking lens | Through the taking lens |
| Main reflex mirror | No | Yes |
| Focus method | Image coincidence | Focusing screen |
| Viewfinder blackout | Normally none | Brief blackout during exposure |
| Parallax | Possible | Effectively avoided |
| Close-up work | More difficult | More practical |
| Long telephoto lenses | Less convenient | Generally easier |
| Body depth | Can be compact | Requires mirror-box space |
| Depth-of-field preview | Normally unavailable | Available on some models |
Rangefinders are often associated with compact wide-angle and standard lenses. SLRs are generally more adaptable to macro, telephoto and specialised lenses. Neither system is universally better.
A traditional rangefinder uses an optical distance-measuring mechanism. A mirrorless camera reads the scene directly from a digital sensor and displays it on an electronic viewfinder or rear screen.
| Feature | Film rangefinder | Mirrorless camera |
|---|---|---|
| Recording medium | Film | Digital sensor |
| Viewfinder | Optical | Electronic or none |
| Focus information | Optical rangefinder patch | Autofocus or electronic magnification |
| Exposure preview | No | Usually yes |
| Battery dependence | Varies | Essential |
| Parallax | Possible | No finder parallax from separate optical window |
Some digital cameras resemble rangefinders externally without containing a true optical rangefinder mechanism. A rangefinder-style body is not necessarily a rangefinder camera.
Some rangefinder cameras have fixed lenses. Others use interchangeable lens systems.
Well-known interchangeable rangefinder mounts include Leica screw mount, Leica M mount, Contax rangefinder mount, Nikon S mount and Canon rangefinder screw mount.
Lens compatibility should never be assumed from appearance alone. Similar-looking mounts may use different flange distances, coupling systems, bayonet dimensions or focusing cams.
Zoom lenses are uncommon on rangefinders because a separate optical finder cannot easily reproduce a continuously changing field of view. Rangefinders are therefore more commonly associated with fixed focal lengths, particularly wide-angle, standard and short telephoto lenses.
Long focal lengths are also difficult to use: a narrow field of view produces a small frame line inside the finder, and focusing accuracy depends on rangefinder base length, viewfinder magnification and mechanical calibration. SLRs became more practical for long telephoto work.
No. Rangefinder cameras have been produced for several film formats.
This is the most familiar category. Examples include Leica M3, Nikon SP, Canon P, Voigtländer Bessa R and Minolta CLE.
Examples include Mamiya 6, Mamiya 7, Fujifilm GF670, Fujifilm GW690 series and Bronica RF645. These cameras combine rangefinder focusing with larger roll-film formats.
Many folding cameras include coupled or uncoupled rangefinders. Examples can be found among Kodak Retina, Zeiss Ikon, Agfa and Voigtländer families. The exact model must be checked because related versions may use different focusing systems.
Optical rangefinders were used in surveying, navigation and military applications before becoming common in photography. Early photographic rangefinders were often separate accessories.
During the early twentieth century, manufacturers integrated rangefinder mechanisms into camera bodies. By the 1930s, coupled rangefinders had become an important feature of advanced 35mm cameras from Leica, Contax and others.
The system remained prominent through the 1950s. The growing popularity of the SLR later reduced the rangefinder's dominance, particularly for professional work requiring telephoto lenses, macro photography or direct through-the-lens composition. Rangefinders nevertheless remained in production and continued to be valued for compact construction, quiet operation and direct optical viewing.
Introduced in 1954, the Leica M3 established the Leica M bayonet mount and combined a bright-line viewfinder with a coupled rangefinder. Its finder was designed primarily around standard and short telephoto lenses.
The Leica M6 retained the mechanical rangefinder structure of the Leica M system while adding through-the-lens exposure metering. It became one of the best-known later film rangefinders.
The Contax II combined a coupled rangefinder with a metal focal-plane shutter and interchangeable Contax-mount lenses. Its focusing system and control layout differed substantially from Leica designs.
The Nikon SP was the most developed model in Nikon's classic rangefinder series. It included a complex viewfinder system intended to support several focal lengths.
The Canon P is a Leica screw-mount rangefinder with a wide optical finder and permanent frame lines for several focal lengths.
The Canon 7 continued Canon's interchangeable-lens rangefinder line and incorporated an exposure meter into the camera body.
The Voigtländer Bessa R brought a modern body and through-the-lens metering to the Leica screw-mount rangefinder system.
The Minolta CLE uses the Leica M mount and combines rangefinder focusing with electronic aperture-priority exposure.
The Canonet QL17 G-III is a fixed-lens 35mm rangefinder with a fast 40mm lens and automatic exposure capability. It represents a different category from interchangeable-lens professional rangefinders.
The camera does not require a reflex mirror box or pentaprism. Lenses can often be positioned closer to the film plane.
The photographer sees the scene through a direct optical finder rather than through a focusing screen.
The finder usually remains visible while the shutter operates, helping the photographer follow movement and observe the moment of exposure.
There is no large mirror movement. Rangefinders using leaf shutters can be particularly quiet.
A high-contrast vertical detail can be focused accurately by aligning the two images.
Bright-line finders often show an area surrounding the recorded frame, allowing the photographer to see subjects entering or leaving the composition.
The finder and lens do not share the same viewpoint.
The finder does not normally show the final depth of field produced by the taking lens.
Many rangefinder lenses have relatively long minimum focusing distances compared with SLR or mirrorless lenses.
Telephoto frame lines can appear small inside the viewfinder.
Low contrast, flare, age or misalignment can make the focusing patch difficult to use.
The lens and rangefinder mechanism must agree precisely. A miscalibrated rangefinder may indicate correct focus while the image is focused in front of or behind the subject.
The finder does not show the visual effect of a filter mounted on the taking lens.
Large lenses or lens hoods may intrude into the lower part of the viewfinder.
A rangefinder can teach manual focusing and deliberate framing, but it is not automatically easier than an SLR.
The focusing patch works best when the subject contains clear lines or contrast. It can be less intuitive with low-contrast subjects, dim light, repeating patterns, subjects without defined edges or very close distances.
Before buying a rangefinder, check finder brightness, focusing-patch contrast, horizontal and vertical rangefinder alignment, agreement between the lens scale and rangefinder, parallax-correction movement, frame-line visibility, shutter operation, lens condition, exposure-meter response, battery availability, light seals and lens-mount compatibility.
For a fixed-lens rangefinder, also check that the lens focusing mechanism moves smoothly across the full distance range.
Q: What is a rangefinder camera? A: A rangefinder camera uses an optical mechanism to measure subject distance and help focus the lens.
Q: How do you focus a rangefinder camera? A: Look at the focusing patch and turn the focusing control until the two images align.
Q: What does the focusing patch do? A: It displays a secondary image that moves relative to the main viewfinder image. Alignment indicates the measured focusing distance.
Q: Does a rangefinder look through the lens? A: Usually not. Most rangefinders use a separate optical viewfinder and focusing system.
Q: Does a rangefinder camera have a mirror? A: It does not have the large reflex mirror used by an SLR. Its focusing mechanism may contain smaller mirrors or prisms.
Q: Is a rangefinder the same as a viewfinder camera? A: No. A rangefinder measures distance. A simple viewfinder camera provides framing but does not confirm focus.
Q: Is a rangefinder the same as an SLR? A: No. An SLR views through the taking lens. A rangefinder uses a separate optical system.
Q: What is a coupled rangefinder? A: A coupled rangefinder is mechanically linked to the lens so that focusing the lens also moves the rangefinder image.
Q: What is an uncoupled rangefinder? A: It measures distance independently. The photographer must transfer the measured distance manually to the lens.
Q: What is parallax error? A: Parallax is a framing difference caused by the finder and taking lens viewing the subject from different positions.
Q: Can rangefinder cameras use interchangeable lenses? A: Some can. Leica M, Leica screw mount, Contax and Nikon S are examples of interchangeable-lens rangefinder systems.
Q: Why are zoom lenses rare on rangefinders? A: A separate optical finder cannot easily reproduce a continuously changing field of view.
Q: Are rangefinders good for street photography? A: Their compact size, direct viewfinder and quiet operation can suit street photography, although this depends on the specific camera and photographer.
Q: Can a rangefinder be used without a battery? A: Many mechanical rangefinders can operate without a battery. A battery may still be required for the exposure meter or electronic shutter.
Q: Are all Leica cameras rangefinders? A: No. Leica has produced rangefinder, SLR, compact, digital and other camera types.
Browse the Camera_DATA rangefinder database to compare cameras by manufacturer, production year, film format, lens mount, fixed lens, focusing system, exposure mode, weight and dimensions.
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A rangefinder camera uses an optical mechanism to measure the distance between the camera and the subject. The photographer focuses by aligning two images, usually visible inside a small patch in the viewfinder.
Unlike an SLR, a rangefinder does not normally show the image through the taking lens. The viewfinder and focusing mechanism use separate optical windows positioned on the camera body.
Rangefinder cameras may have interchangeable lenses or fixed lenses. They may use manual exposure, automatic exposure or a combination of both. The defining feature is the rangefinder mechanism, not the lens mount, film format or exposure system.
The word rangefinder describes an instrument used to determine distance.
In a camera, this measured distance is used to focus the taking lens.
Most photographic rangefinders work by triangulation. The camera observes the subject through two optical windows separated by a fixed distance. The difference between these two viewpoints changes according to subject distance.
Inside the viewfinder, the photographer sees:
When both images coincide, the lens is focused at the distance measured by the rangefinder.
A camera with an optical finder but no distance-measuring mechanism is a viewfinder camera, not a rangefinder.
A typical rangefinder has two front-facing optical windows.
The first window provides the main viewfinder image.
The second window sends another view of the subject through a movable mirror or prism. This secondary image appears inside a small focusing area in the main finder.
Because the two windows are positioned apart, they see the subject from slightly different angles.
Turning the lens focusing control changes the angle of the rangefinder mechanism. The photographer adjusts focus until the two images overlap.
The sequence can be summarised as:
The rangefinder does not analyse image sharpness in the same way as an SLR focusing screen. It measures distance geometrically.
The focusing patch is the area inside the viewfinder where the two rangefinder images are compared.
It may appear as a bright rectangle, a coloured patch, a circular area, a split or superimposed image, or a small central region with higher contrast.
When the lens is not correctly focused, vertical subject details appear doubled or separated.
The photographer usually selects a clear vertical edge, such as a door frame, the edge of a building, a person's eye or a signpost, and turns the focusing control until both images align.
A faded or low-contrast patch can make focusing difficult even when the rest of the viewfinder appears clear.
A coupled rangefinder is mechanically connected to the lens focusing system.
When the photographer turns the focusing ring:
This allows focusing to be completed in one action.
An uncoupled rangefinder measures distance but does not automatically set the lens. The photographer must measure the distance, read the value and transfer it manually to the lens scale.
Coupled rangefinders are generally faster to use.
Most rangefinder cameras do not show the scene through the taking lens.
The photographer looks through a separate optical viewfinder. The finder image is not formed by the mounted lens; instead, frame lines indicate the approximate field of view.
On an interchangeable-lens rangefinder, different frame lines may appear for different focal lengths. Some cameras select frame lines automatically when a lens is mounted; others require a manual selector or accessory finder.
Because the viewfinder is separate from the taking lens, it normally remains visible during the exposure. There is no reflex mirror to rise and block the view.
Rangefinder cameras do not have the large reflex mirror found in an SLR. The rangefinder mechanism itself may contain small mirrors or prisms used to combine the two optical images, but these components do not move out of the taking lens path during exposure.
Parallax is the difference between the view through the finder and the view through the taking lens.
The finder is positioned above or beside the lens. It therefore observes the scene from a slightly different position. At long distances the difference is usually small; at close distances the recorded image may be shifted relative to the finder image.
This can cause additional space on one side of the frame, part of the subject to be cut off, or foreground objects to appear in a different position.
Many advanced rangefinders include automatic parallax correction: as the lens focuses closer, the frame lines move to approximate the area that will be recorded. This correction improves framing but does not turn the finder into a through-the-lens system.
A viewfinder camera and a rangefinder camera may both use a separate optical finder. The difference is focusing.
| Feature | Viewfinder camera | Rangefinder camera |
|---|---|---|
| Viewing system | Separate optical finder | Separate optical finder |
| Distance measurement | No | Yes |
| Focusing patch | No | Usually yes |
| Common focusing methods | Fixed, zone or scale focus | Coupled or uncoupled rangefinder |
| Parallax | Present | Present, sometimes corrected |
| Through-the-lens viewing | No | No |
A camera is not a rangefinder simply because it has a clear finder or bright frame lines. It must include a distance-measuring mechanism.
A rangefinder measures subject distance through a separate optical mechanism. An SLR shows the image formed directly by the taking lens.
| Feature | Rangefinder | SLR |
|---|---|---|
| Viewing path | Separate from taking lens | Through the taking lens |
| Main reflex mirror | No | Yes |
| Focus method | Image coincidence | Focusing screen |
| Viewfinder blackout | Normally none | Brief blackout during exposure |
| Parallax | Possible | Effectively avoided |
| Close-up work | More difficult | More practical |
| Long telephoto lenses | Less convenient | Generally easier |
| Body depth | Can be compact | Requires mirror-box space |
| Depth-of-field preview | Normally unavailable | Available on some models |
Rangefinders are often associated with compact wide-angle and standard lenses. SLRs are generally more adaptable to macro, telephoto and specialised lenses. Neither system is universally better.
A traditional rangefinder uses an optical distance-measuring mechanism. A mirrorless camera reads the scene directly from a digital sensor and displays it on an electronic viewfinder or rear screen.
| Feature | Film rangefinder | Mirrorless camera |
|---|---|---|
| Recording medium | Film | Digital sensor |
| Viewfinder | Optical | Electronic or none |
| Focus information | Optical rangefinder patch | Autofocus or electronic magnification |
| Exposure preview | No | Usually yes |
| Battery dependence | Varies | Essential |
| Parallax | Possible | No finder parallax from separate optical window |
Some digital cameras resemble rangefinders externally without containing a true optical rangefinder mechanism. A rangefinder-style body is not necessarily a rangefinder camera.
Some rangefinder cameras have fixed lenses. Others use interchangeable lens systems.
Well-known interchangeable rangefinder mounts include Leica screw mount, Leica M mount, Contax rangefinder mount, Nikon S mount and Canon rangefinder screw mount.
Lens compatibility should never be assumed from appearance alone. Similar-looking mounts may use different flange distances, coupling systems, bayonet dimensions or focusing cams.
Zoom lenses are uncommon on rangefinders because a separate optical finder cannot easily reproduce a continuously changing field of view. Rangefinders are therefore more commonly associated with fixed focal lengths, particularly wide-angle, standard and short telephoto lenses.
Long focal lengths are also difficult to use: a narrow field of view produces a small frame line inside the finder, and focusing accuracy depends on rangefinder base length, viewfinder magnification and mechanical calibration. SLRs became more practical for long telephoto work.
No. Rangefinder cameras have been produced for several film formats.
This is the most familiar category. Examples include Leica M3, Nikon SP, Canon P, Voigtländer Bessa R and Minolta CLE.
Examples include Mamiya 6, Mamiya 7, Fujifilm GF670, Fujifilm GW690 series and Bronica RF645. These cameras combine rangefinder focusing with larger roll-film formats.
Many folding cameras include coupled or uncoupled rangefinders. Examples can be found among Kodak Retina, Zeiss Ikon, Agfa and Voigtländer families. The exact model must be checked because related versions may use different focusing systems.
Optical rangefinders were used in surveying, navigation and military applications before becoming common in photography. Early photographic rangefinders were often separate accessories.
During the early twentieth century, manufacturers integrated rangefinder mechanisms into camera bodies. By the 1930s, coupled rangefinders had become an important feature of advanced 35mm cameras from Leica, Contax and others.
The system remained prominent through the 1950s. The growing popularity of the SLR later reduced the rangefinder's dominance, particularly for professional work requiring telephoto lenses, macro photography or direct through-the-lens composition. Rangefinders nevertheless remained in production and continued to be valued for compact construction, quiet operation and direct optical viewing.
Introduced in 1954, the Leica M3 established the Leica M bayonet mount and combined a bright-line viewfinder with a coupled rangefinder. Its finder was designed primarily around standard and short telephoto lenses.
The Leica M6 retained the mechanical rangefinder structure of the Leica M system while adding through-the-lens exposure metering. It became one of the best-known later film rangefinders.
The Contax II combined a coupled rangefinder with a metal focal-plane shutter and interchangeable Contax-mount lenses. Its focusing system and control layout differed substantially from Leica designs.
The Nikon SP was the most developed model in Nikon's classic rangefinder series. It included a complex viewfinder system intended to support several focal lengths.
The Canon P is a Leica screw-mount rangefinder with a wide optical finder and permanent frame lines for several focal lengths.
The Canon 7 continued Canon's interchangeable-lens rangefinder line and incorporated an exposure meter into the camera body.
The Voigtländer Bessa R brought a modern body and through-the-lens metering to the Leica screw-mount rangefinder system.
The Minolta CLE uses the Leica M mount and combines rangefinder focusing with electronic aperture-priority exposure.
The Canonet QL17 G-III is a fixed-lens 35mm rangefinder with a fast 40mm lens and automatic exposure capability. It represents a different category from interchangeable-lens professional rangefinders.
The camera does not require a reflex mirror box or pentaprism. Lenses can often be positioned closer to the film plane.
The photographer sees the scene through a direct optical finder rather than through a focusing screen.
The finder usually remains visible while the shutter operates, helping the photographer follow movement and observe the moment of exposure.
There is no large mirror movement. Rangefinders using leaf shutters can be particularly quiet.
A high-contrast vertical detail can be focused accurately by aligning the two images.
Bright-line finders often show an area surrounding the recorded frame, allowing the photographer to see subjects entering or leaving the composition.
The finder and lens do not share the same viewpoint.
The finder does not normally show the final depth of field produced by the taking lens.
Many rangefinder lenses have relatively long minimum focusing distances compared with SLR or mirrorless lenses.
Telephoto frame lines can appear small inside the viewfinder.
Low contrast, flare, age or misalignment can make the focusing patch difficult to use.
The lens and rangefinder mechanism must agree precisely. A miscalibrated rangefinder may indicate correct focus while the image is focused in front of or behind the subject.
The finder does not show the visual effect of a filter mounted on the taking lens.
Large lenses or lens hoods may intrude into the lower part of the viewfinder.
A rangefinder can teach manual focusing and deliberate framing, but it is not automatically easier than an SLR.
The focusing patch works best when the subject contains clear lines or contrast. It can be less intuitive with low-contrast subjects, dim light, repeating patterns, subjects without defined edges or very close distances.
Before buying a rangefinder, check finder brightness, focusing-patch contrast, horizontal and vertical rangefinder alignment, agreement between the lens scale and rangefinder, parallax-correction movement, frame-line visibility, shutter operation, lens condition, exposure-meter response, battery availability, light seals and lens-mount compatibility.
For a fixed-lens rangefinder, also check that the lens focusing mechanism moves smoothly across the full distance range.
Q: What is a rangefinder camera? A: A rangefinder camera uses an optical mechanism to measure subject distance and help focus the lens.
Q: How do you focus a rangefinder camera? A: Look at the focusing patch and turn the focusing control until the two images align.
Q: What does the focusing patch do? A: It displays a secondary image that moves relative to the main viewfinder image. Alignment indicates the measured focusing distance.
Q: Does a rangefinder look through the lens? A: Usually not. Most rangefinders use a separate optical viewfinder and focusing system.
Q: Does a rangefinder camera have a mirror? A: It does not have the large reflex mirror used by an SLR. Its focusing mechanism may contain smaller mirrors or prisms.
Q: Is a rangefinder the same as a viewfinder camera? A: No. A rangefinder measures distance. A simple viewfinder camera provides framing but does not confirm focus.
Q: Is a rangefinder the same as an SLR? A: No. An SLR views through the taking lens. A rangefinder uses a separate optical system.
Q: What is a coupled rangefinder? A: A coupled rangefinder is mechanically linked to the lens so that focusing the lens also moves the rangefinder image.
Q: What is an uncoupled rangefinder? A: It measures distance independently. The photographer must transfer the measured distance manually to the lens.
Q: What is parallax error? A: Parallax is a framing difference caused by the finder and taking lens viewing the subject from different positions.
Q: Can rangefinder cameras use interchangeable lenses? A: Some can. Leica M, Leica screw mount, Contax and Nikon S are examples of interchangeable-lens rangefinder systems.
Q: Why are zoom lenses rare on rangefinders? A: A separate optical finder cannot easily reproduce a continuously changing field of view.
Q: Are rangefinders good for street photography? A: Their compact size, direct viewfinder and quiet operation can suit street photography, although this depends on the specific camera and photographer.
Q: Can a rangefinder be used without a battery? A: Many mechanical rangefinders can operate without a battery. A battery may still be required for the exposure meter or electronic shutter.
Q: Are all Leica cameras rangefinders? A: No. Leica has produced rangefinder, SLR, compact, digital and other camera types.
Browse the Camera_DATA rangefinder database to compare cameras by manufacturer, production year, film format, lens mount, fixed lens, focusing system, exposure mode, weight and dimensions.